What we learned from Blue Jays’ first half

This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.

Have you ever loved your four-day break from the Blue Jays’ rollercoaster?

Toronto’s 50-41 document is constructed on unimaginable highs and exasperating lows. It’s all a part of the 2023 expertise with this membership that’s able to a lot extra within the unofficial second half of the season, which begins Friday when the D-backs come to city.

Inconsistencies have plagued the Blue Jays early, so it’s a query of whether or not these will proceed or if this membership can go on a real run. There’s a skinny line between the 2, however once more, the Blue Jays have the entire expertise wanted, it’s only a matter of pointing that expertise in the proper path and “taking part in in sync,” as supervisor John Schneider likes to say.

Right here’s our midseason report:

What we discovered within the first half

Nothing has been simple … and nothing will probably be.

Take a look at the Blue Jays’ roster on paper. This crew has all of the expertise on the earth, greater than able to chasing a division crown, however as a substitute finds itself caught in the identical Wild Card race we’ve been speaking about since 2020. There’s one thing to be stated about merely reaching the postseason persistently and making an attempt to get sizzling on the proper time, however the Blue Jays want to achieve a unique stage.

The American League East has been a nightmare for the Blue Jays. They’ve gone 7-20, together with 0-7 towards the Crimson Sox and 1-5 towards the Orioles. That Orioles membership, which appears to graduate a brand new prime prospect each week, is just getting scarier. The realities of life within the AL East will not be type, and the Blue Jays are taking the brunt of it.

One sizzling streak adjustments all the things, although. Keep in mind these 11 consecutive wins in early August that put the 2015 Blue Jays excessive? That may do.

Seemingly Commerce Deadline technique

There isn’t a standard “gap” to fill the place a star has been misplaced for the season or fallen dramatically in need of expectations. That doesn’t imply the Blue Jays can’t be aggressive and additional change the DNA of this roster, however depth tinkering appears likelier.

Rotation depth ranks excessive, even with the return of Alek Manoah, and Hyun Jin Ryu coming again quickly. There would be the common bullpen tinkering you see from any contender, too, and the Blue Jays might additionally afford so as to add a right-handed bat to their bench. This membership has not often used its twenty sixth spot, so there are higher methods to enhance this roster.

Manoah. The massive man regarded nice in his return towards the Tigers final week, throwing six innings of one-run ball and placing out eight. If he’s again to his previous self, that’s the one largest growth of the Blue Jays’ season and places them again amongst baseball’s finest rotations. If the approaching weeks carry extra inconsistencies, it will get uncomfortable.

That is why rotation depth stays a Deadline precedence, even when the Blue Jays might have six wholesome MLB starters by then. Toronto’s depth past this group could be very skinny — which must be precedence No. 1 this offseason — they usually have three starters within the prime 11 for innings pitched within the American League. If somebody must take a breath, there must be an acceptable possibility behind them.

Addison Barger. Granted, No. 4 prospect Orelvis Martinez has turned a disastrous begin into an unimaginable season, however Barger, at No. 6has a extra practical shot to play large league video games down the stretch.

An elbow damage value Barger almost two months away from Triple-A Buffalo, and his numbers aren’t there but, however there’s a motive the Blue Jays gave him such a protracted look in Spring Coaching. Not solely is Barger one of many membership’s prime prospects, he’s on the entrance of the road to play third base subsequent season if Matt Chapman leaves by way of free company. The Blue Jays gained’t carry him as much as sit on the bench, however no matter the place his reps come, this group must correctly consider Barger heading right into a vital offseason.